can you explain to me the significance of '>>' as opposed to '>'?

See open (it's also explained in Opening Text Files for Writing):

If MODE is >, the file is opened for output, with existing files first being truncated ("clobbered") and nonexisting files newly created. If MODE is >>, the file is opened for appending, again being created if necessary.

In reply to Re^4: I'm trying to print the contents of a hash to newly created files by haukex
in thread I'm trying to print the contents of a hash to newly created files by Peter Keystrokes

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